Photography – Page 3 – M J Mallon YA Author and Poet

The Bloggers Bash 2019 – Highlights and Photos #bloggersbash @BloggersBash

I can count on one hand how many bashes I have attended – five in total. Each have been different but one aspect is undeniable – I have put on a little weight since the first one.

I blame Ritu’s wonderful cakes!

Do check out Ritu’s new author blog:

https://ritubhathal.com

It was lovely reconnecting with old friends and making new ones too.

Unfortunately, as with all bashes there is always that moment when you realise that you haven’t had a chance to speak to everyone. So apologies to those I missed and to those I only chatted to briefly.

I took very few photos. Getting lazy…

But here are some, below myself, with Willow and Ritu.

Congratulations to Ritu for winning best book blog and to Sam Smith at Loving The Fifty Something Blog for winning the writing competition this year. I really enjoyed chatting to Sam and wish her every success and happiness with her writing and inspirational lifestyle.

Highlights

I particularly enjoyed listening to guest author Gemma Todd talking about her writing journey.

From working class girl with no books in the house, or readers in her family, to librarian and Headline author! That shows determination, tenacity and a love of the written word! Gemma flitted across the stage in an exuberant but down-to-earth way making me smile. She shared some touching anecdotes about her father and her genuine authenticity shone through.

The journey of a writer. Interesting and emotional talk by @GemTodd #BloggersBash pic.twitter.com/P9uZF22BEv

— Shelley Wilson (@ShelleyWilson72) June 15, 2019

I’ve followed Gemma on Twitter and will be finding out more about her book series which sounds fab. You can find out more about Gemma on her author website is via this link: https://gxtodd.com

Other highlights of the day were the flatlay session with Suzanne Elliot. Great tips from Suzanne followed by Sacha helping me with my creation.

Sacha Black’s invaluable advice was simple: less is more – don’t clutter your #flatlay photography. Add items to identify your unique style.

In Sacha’s case she includes a skull in her #flatlay. In my case, I could consider adding an item in red (like the colouring on my book cover.)

This is my work in progress flatlay… red item to be added at a later date. Perhaps a red bloodstone!

And The Panellists

Discussion was very interesting too. We heard from three knowledgeable bloggers/writers.

Listening to @esthernewton201 @ShelleyWilson72 and @FulltotheBrum during the panel discussion at the #BloggersBash pic.twitter.com/oucKOMJo6n

— Suzie81blog (@suzie81blog) June 15, 19

Great summation of the bash by my lovely friend Ritu: https://butismileanyway.com/2019/06/17/chai-and-a-chat-37-chaiandachat-bloggersbash-special-bloggersbash/

The perspective of a new blogger who hadn’t been before – Marian:

https://justmuddlingthroughlife.co.uk/2019/06/16/annual-bloggers-bash-2019/

More about the Bloggers Bash and Flatlay workshop from Eloise:

https://eloisedesousa.wordpress.com/2019/06/15/bloggers-bash-flatlay-workshop/

https://eloisedesousa.wordpress.com/2019/06/15/bloggers-bash-2019/

From the Bloggers Bash Website:

https://annualbloggersbash.com/2019/06/15/winners-of-the-2019-annual-bloggers-bash-awards-and-blog-post-competition-bloggersbash/

And Willow’s wonderful account full of photos: https://willowdot21.wordpress.com/2019/06/16/the-annual-bloggers-bash-june-15-2019/

Sherri’s fab post on the bash: https://sherrimatthewsblog.com/2019/06/18/five-years-and-another-fab-bloggers-bash-2019/

Bye for now.

If you haven’t been to the bash yet I hope you might consider coming!

Buy Book: myBook.to/TheCurseofTime

Grafitti Murals – Montreal Canada

I’m just back from a lovely holiday with my two daughters in Montreal.

Everywhere I looked there appeared to be Grafitti murals on the streets. Being a big fan of Graffiti murals I thought I’d share them with you.

See the one above? It’s the very first mural I saw on my holiday situated near our Airbnb in Laurier.

Eerie isn’t it?

Here are some of the other ones I came across… The girl in the mural below looks sad too…

I like how the next mural blends in with it surroundings. The real flowers joining the painted flowers in an unusual way! We stopped in this area for a coffee at Cafe Olympico.

The next one’s kind of exotic. But those bushes really need cutting back! We’re missing out on the bottom part of the mural in Quartier Latin.

This is also in the Quartier Latin. Very bright and vibrant like this area of Montreal.

Then here’s one from Mont-Royal

If you are planning on visiting Montreal and would like to find out more about their street art check out this post: https://www.mtl.org/en/experience/montreal-murals-101

Have you visited Montreal? What are you waiting for…

Buy Book: myBook.to/TheCurseofTime

Unique Selling Point: Unique, Imaginative, ‘Charming, enchanting and richly layered this is purely delightful.’

Social Media Links

Authors Website: https://atomic-temporary-67364188.wpcomstaging.com
Collaborative Blog: https://sistersofthefey.wordpress.com
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon and @curseof_time
#ABRSC: Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17064826.M_J_Mallon

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjmallonauthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjmallonauthor/

#BlogBattle: Flower – Mr Sagitarrius

This is my entry for Rachael Ritchey’s #BlogBattle – Flower https://blogbattlers.wordpress.com/2019/01/01/flower/

This is inspired by my frequent visits to the Botanic Gardens in Cambridge. It truly is a magical place.

Mr Sagittarius

I know I am dying so I have come to bid all my loves and especially my dearest orchid a final farewell. I pray I will surrender my soul to a place that will be as sweet as this hot house garden. I have a bequest in my pocket. It includes a generous sum of money for a park bench in honour of this magnificent garden. I will ask for a few simple words to be engraved on my bench when I pass to the garden of death.

It will say:

Mr Sagitarrius Died This Day in This Snow Drop Garden.

Forgive me – I am ninety two,

I forgot all but two of my loves’ names,

My first and my last.

But I remember my orchid.

Love is a garden.

It is divine.

Everyday my old limbs pay a visit to the Botanic Garden in Cambridge. I hate routine, but my aching joints oblige when my lonely soul is in need of feminine company. It is winter and in this season of chills, chilblains, snow and ice my favourite haunt is the glasshouses. There my ancient heart is warmed and I reminisce about… LOVE.

My eyes begin a familiar journey. First alighting on one of many beauties, my first love! The bird of paradise flower which I stumbled across in Papua New Guinea when I was an innocent. I was an adventurer, then. But, once awakened by the attentions of Ruth I became a Casanova! I fell in love, or perhaps in lust with Ruth – a dark-skinned beauty. I still remember the curve of her youthful skin and the way she used to gyrate her hips to entice me to join her in bed.

I linger in silent contemplation remembering Ruth and our amorous nights. Oh, what regrets followed the sudden demise of our fiery liaison. The never-ending jealousies were a sign of my Sagittarius failings, and my dare I say it?

Inability to commit.

Here I go again. Even at my advanced age my old knees fight the urge to rest and move on… longing to see… my next conquest.

There she is! Oh sigh. What a divine creature. Twirling on tiptoe, my ballerina flower. Yes, how you could dance, pirouetting on pointe. I remember you in Swan Lake. How perfect you were, your tutu twirling around as your hair remained still. Such a picture of perfection characterised by that tight bun. How I relished swiftly untwirling your hair and removing all of your clothing the very same night. And dare I say it? There was an encore! But even you could not keep my attention for long. Not when there was such a fire in my belly.

There she is! Wicked creature, I blame this red glory for breaking us up.

She rose up to demand my attention like a pompon ablaze, sharp-witted with spikes of outrageous character. Oh, how this strange flower reminds me of her. She had bright red hair, and such a quirky personality. I was hooked and yet, I regret, her true name escapes me, so I nickname you Calliandra. My mind is not as sharp as it used to be. Please forgive me, my beautiful red bonnet.

If by any chance we ever meet again I would rest my head on your shoulder. I’d begin by stroking your hair to get close to you. I’d caress you until intoxicated by your scent I would trace tiny trails of tender kisses down your perfect body. Sigh, the memory of this is almost too much for me. I feel quite giddy. Let me rest for a moment in a quiet corner. Or, I fear that some well-meaning but overzealous first aider will attach that defibrillator to me! Please don’t bother. It’s not needed.

I should have known you wouldn’t let me rest you selfish wench!

Narcissus, my daffodil.

You command attention and I obey. Your beauty is cunning and without compare and yet I sense there is something lacking.

You are too selfish.

You cannot love.

My orchid….

I should have visited you first. Please forgive me dearest sweetheart. You were the most exquisite of them all. My last, my first true love, an oriental flower, slender, graceful, full of charm, but, oh so fragile. I should have known. Oh, how I miss you. Now I am a ghost and lost without you. I settled for you, forgetting all others. Now I, this ghost of regret, understands the true nature of love. And now you pay me back for my thoughtlessness – your cruel ghost avoids me.

How could you be so wicked?

Perhaps you never died.

True beauty never does.

©M J Mallon

Hope you liked my story. I really enjoyed doing this one!

Bye for now,

Buy Book: myBook.to/TheCurseofTime

Social Media Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjmallonauthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjmallonauthor/

Colleen’s Weekly Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge Poets Choice of Words #Edinburgh #Shadorma #Poetry #Photography #City #New Year

It’s poet’s choice of words this week so I thought I’d share with you some of my photographs of Edinburgh – a city I love so much – and my first attempts at Shadorma poetry…

It calls me

This Scottish City

Beautiful

Lights twinkle

Edinburgh’s dark shadows

Perfect time and place

Your buildings

Adorned like parcels

Pink in blue

They twinkle

My home from home forever

The best gift of all

20181229_164927

I see you

Bright castle hiding

Beyond trees

Magic night

Such a blue sky highlights you.

Nestled on a hill

20181229_170157

Me and mum

Posing together

Two gals out

Shopping trip

But much more – mother daughter

Friends, always best friends.

To join in Colleen’s poetry challenge follow the link:

https://colleenchesebro.com/2019/01/01/colleens-2019-weekly-tanka-tuesday-poetry-challenge-no-117-poets-choice-of-words/

Ah, you can see I’m home-sick already! Missing my mum and dad and Edinburgh. Sigh.

Do you have a home from home that calls to you too?

bitmoji-496995105

85978B3EEB2A2F45468E6707CEAFE70D

Buy Book: myBook.to/TheCurseofTime

I’m a contributing author in the Plaisted Publishing House Ghostly Writes Anthology 2018 with my story Ghostly Goodbye. Available on Amazon, Apple, Nook, Kobo, Scribd, 24S, Playster, Indigo, Angus & Robertson, Mondadori Store:

Universal Buying Link

Social Media Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjmallonauthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjmallonauthor/

Tumblr: http://mjmallonauthor.tumblr.com/

Colleens Weekly Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge No 112 – #Travel #Lisbon #Photography #HardRockCafe #Music #Accident #Trip #Fall

My hubby and I went for a long weekend to Lisbon. Unfortunately I had a fall on holiday and hurt my foot. I’d been out the night before at the Hard Rock Cafe, (indulging in cocktails and behaving like I’m one of the youngsters.)

My hubby and I were listening to a very good cover band. The next day I was feeling pretty good – no hangover! But it was raining heavily and the cobbled pavements were very slippery.

We arrived at this spot – we’d been there the evening before. This was taken when it was sunny…

The next day the band were there again. They were about to set up. Imagine those wet cobble stones, see that foot. It’s probably mine. Yes, you get the picture.

I felt a sharp pain

Hubby rushed to help me up

Good nothing broken

A hard rock holiday fall

A low-risk trip, groan get up!

So the band and my hubby rushed towards me to help. I felt like a celebrity!

It was my birthday but it was not quite what I had in mind for a birthday present. Lol.

Still the Altis hotel made up for it with this unexpected surprise.

Luckily no major harm done but I am still hobbling about a bit.

… Ouch.. I should have caught this instead…

If I had I would have admired this awesome graffiti… Which I did on another occasion.

I should have hugged a tree instead to stay safe. This one reminded me of an enormous, hairy gorilla with big caring arms!

Luckily the first two days were very sunny. Blue shades weather. I pinched my hubby’s sunglasses. He said they suited me!

We saw some wild life – this charming fellow caught my eye… He looks astonished doesn’t he? Camera shy perhaps? Or perhaps he heard about my fall.

All in all I had a lovely birthday break away in Lisbon. It’s a beautiful city, I’d really recommend a visit.

I LOVE PORTUGAL.

But watch out for those cobbled streets in the rain. I wish I hadn’t had that fall. But, it could have been much worse.

I’m grateful I didn’t get whisked away in an ambulance – this has happened to me and various other family members before…

We are very accident prone. Check out this post:

https://kyrosmagica.wordpress.com/2015/02/15/an-unusual-valentines-adventure/

If you’d like to join in Colleen’s weekly poetry challenge you better get your skates on!

https://colleenchesebro.com/2018/11/27/colleens-weekly-tanka-tuesday-poetry-challenge-no-112-cold-safe-synonymsonly/

Have you been to Lisbon? Do let me know in the comments. x

Stay safe and out of the rain.

Bye for now,

I’m a contributing author in the Plaisted Publishing House Ghostly Writes Anthology 2018 with my story Ghostly Goodbye.

Ghostly Goodbye by M J Mallon

Ghostly Goodbye is a paranormal love story about a young woman called Iris who can’t get over her husband’s death. She is mourning him so much that she feels dead inside. Her husband Ed sends her a ghostly message from beyond the grave via an old forgotten garment in her wardrobe. She responds by dragging herself from her tomb-like bed and he draws back the curtain of death to visit her in a most unusual way.

Available on Amazon, Apple, Nook, Kobo, Scribd, 24S, Playster, Indigo, Angus & Robertson, Mondadori Store: Universal Buying Link

And in paperback on Lulu.com.

Social Media Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjmallonauthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjmallonauthor/

Tumblr: http://mjmallonauthor.tumblr.com/

Colleen’s Weekly Poetry Tuesday Challenge No. 54: GHOST & HAUNT

I dream in colour,

But now everything is dark,

Where has the light gone?

Oh, cruel leafy canopy?

No green meadow, just blue thoughts.

A spectre haunts me,

Through the trees he drifts slowly,

I hear no weeping,

Just a tall, grey wall of sighs,

Twigs snap, and nothing changes.

Oh dear, that was sad and depressing! …. Why am I always drawn to writing such misery? Don’t answer that!

Hope you like my Tanka’s (even if they’re sad,) and the contrasting photos I took of the trees.

To join in with Colleen’s challenge follow the link: https://colleenchesebro.com/2017/10/10/colleens-weekly-poetry-tuesday-challenge-no-54-ghost-haunt/

Bye for now, time for a smiley Sunday face! It had to be done!

unnamed

85978B3EEB2A2F45468E6707CEAFE70D

My social media links:
Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support Club
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon @curseof_time
Instagram
Facebook

Tumblr

Fellow Administrators of our Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club #ABRSC on Facebook, myself, my good friends Colleen Chesebro and Debby Gies. Click on Colleen’s and Debby’s photos to be directed to their awesome blogs. These ladies rock!

https://mjmallon.com

https://colleenchesebro.com/

http://dgkayewriter.com/

Colleen’s Weekly #Poetry Challenge No. 48 #Haiku #Tanka #Haibun: STONE & TURN

My Tanka this week is just a funny story really. This is what happened…

The day before our daughter Tasha was due to go to South Korea to teach English as a foreign language my youngest disappeared. She’d been out for a driving lesson and no one had heard from her. Her mobile had been left on the bed with her debit card too… now we knew something was up. How strange. Hours later she turned up safe and well… at home where she’d been all along! No one had seen her, or heard her. She’d been watching TV in the downstairs lounge, and had crept back up to her bed and scooted under the duvet, all without anyone noticing – that’s taking playing at hiding, just chilling to a new level!

Tanka (6)

Equally as strange was this cloud formation Tasha and I had seen. The photo doesn’t do it justice, it resembled a giant bird taking flight and within twenty four hours that’s just what Tasha did – flew away.

20170827_193105 (1)

Yesterday morning, my husband drove us to Heathrow so that Tasha could catch her flight to Seoul, and then on to Busan. I knew I’d miss her – I’d been taking every opportunity to spend time with her. I have to admit I was overwhelmed by my emotions. As she left for the departure gate my eyes filled with tears and my youngest Gina saw me crying and started to cry a bit too. For a moment it brought back memories to three years ago when we dropped Tasha off in Brighton to begin her University course. Miraculously, I hadn’t cried then, but I made up for the lack of tears by crying spectacularly now!

It isn’t easy to see your children leave for a year but we couldn’t be more proud of her. It takes courage to embark upon a life-changing adventure when you are only twenty one. Or craziness! There’s a lot of her grandfather in her. My dad left Scotland and travelled to the Far East many, many years ago. At the time, he was told that he was crazy to do so and now it seems that his granddaughter is now following in his footsteps.

I hope you enjoyed this Tanka and personal anecdote.

If you have sons or daughters leaving home to go far away, perhaps to study or to work, I’d love to hear your experiences, let’s share a tear or two.

Much love,

Bye for now,

bitmoji-1276089735

85978B3EEB2A2F45468E6707CEAFE70D

To join in with Colleen’s wonderful poetry challenge: https://colleenchesebro.com/2017/08/29/colleens-weekly-poetry-challenge-no-48-haiku-tanka-haibun-stone-turn/

My social media links:

Fellow Administrators of our Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club #ABRSC on Facebook, myself, my good friends Colleen Chesebro and Debby Gies. Click on Colleen’s and Debby’s photos to be directed to their awesome blogs. These ladies rock!

https://mjmallon.com

https://colleenchesebro.com/

http://dgkayewriter.com/

Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook

Twitter:@Marjorie_Mallon
Twitter: @curseof_time

Instagram

Facebook

Tumblr

The Kelpies, a pink bus shelter and two taxi drivers

20170802_134131

I’ve been longing to see the Kelpies, two enormous horse sculptures that live in Falkirk, Scotland. This had been on my bucket list of things to do whilst up in Edinburgh. Not only did I come face to face with the Kelpies I also met two entertaining taxi drivers and came across a bright pink bus shelter with no buses. Such is Scotland, it has a charm you can’t hope to find anywhere else in the world and that is why I love it so.

Mum and I set off the day after I arrived in Edinburgh. The weather seemed fair, so I wasn’t about to take any chances. In Scotland when it’s dry you go out, you don’t wait for the next day!

We travelled by train and arrived at Falkirk High hoping to take the bus to the Kelpies. As we went off in search of a bus we walked past three taxi drivers having a chat. I sensed that these three were not your ordinary run of the mill taxi drivers. The nearby bus stop had a timetable that stated a half an hour wait so mum and I decided to opt for a taxi.

This is when the fun began!

We asked the three taxi drivers if one of them could take us to see the Kelpies. They greeted us with enthusiasm, told us the price and suggested that we take the taxi at the front. It turned out that our driver had a dual career. He’d grown tired of plumbing and now worked as a taxi driver/plumber. He had a fine line of chat that could win him a job as a chat show host or a comedian at the Edinburgh Fringe. I’m not joking! His banter started as soon as we asked him the price to take us to the Kelpies. He said Scottish folk get a special rate of six or seven pounds but the English have to pay ten. Obviously, he had heard I live in Cambridge!

Continue reading The Kelpies, a pink bus shelter and two taxi drivers

Happy Easter!!!

Happy Easter

Wishing you all a very Happy Easter.

I’m still on a bit of a blogging break until my eldest daughter returns to University so will be somewhat scarce in blogging land.

I had a wonderful holiday up in Edinburgh but it was all too short…

Here are some of my photos:

unnamed (2)

That’s one of me and my daughter Georgina before I had my lunch…. I tend to shrink when I’m hungry! We were at a very nice restaurant called The Railbridge Bistro in South Queensferry which overlooks the bridges and has haggis on the menu!

And here’s my lovely mum and dad… Missing them…

unnamed (1)

My dad hates the cold, and though the view at South Queensferry is amazing it was bitterly chilly… My mum looks okay, in fact she dares to look a bit amused but poor dad…

unnamed (3)

unnamed (4)

Since I’ve been back in Cambridge, I’ve had a lovely time with my eldest daughter who is visiting from University.

Recently we went out to a cafe in Cambridge…

And she approved of my photo… The drink looks like some sort of Dr Who concoction but I believe it is a green tea matcha. Oh, by the way did you see the Dr Who episode last night? If you did I bet you didn’t dare have a shower or bath before bedtime. I love it when Dr Who gets all scary!

unnamed (6)

Then, there’s me all dressed up as I had work afterwards. Recently, I started working part-time at Ann Summers – which is a strangest job I have ever had! It’s a bit like marmite some days I love it, some days I hate it! Ha ha…. It’s a tricky one for an introvert with extrovert tendencies. Anyway, that plate in front of me is the remains of a very tasty Orange and Polenta cake that we shared at Espresso Library cafe in Cambridge.

unnamed (5)

Before I go let me say a big thank you to all the contributors to my Facebook Rainbow Support Club in my absence.

Here are just some of the wonderful links that have appeared:

http://marshajustwrites.com/accidental-tourist/

https://dgkayewriter.com/who-has-a-new-book-the-swamp-fairy-colleen-cheseboro/

http://allanhudson.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/4q-interview-and-excerpt-with-guest.html

https://steviet3.wordpress.com/2017/04/13/friday-roundup-on-a-thursday-13th-april/

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2017/04/15/sallys-cafe-and-bookstore-author-book-reading-and-interview-d-g-kaye/

https://jennyinneverland.com/2017/04/14/bloggers-revealed/

https://scvincent.com/2017/04/12/guest-author-sarah-brentyn-where-i-spin-self-doubt-into-a-post/

https://scvincent.com/2017/04/14/guest-author-d-wallace-peach-room-to-breathe/

All the contributors have done a fabulous job of making the page a fantastic resource of information, help, and collaboration for fellow writers/bloggers.

Do pop over to the club page and take a look, and come give the club some love: Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support Club.

If you’d like to join the club please do message myself either in the comment below or contact me on my email marjma2014@gmail.com, or chat about it with Colleen Chesebro or Debby Gies, my two fabulous blogging buddies who administer the running of the club with me.

All the best for a lovely Easter.

Do pop over to my Instagram page to see the rest of my photos: My Instagram

unnamed

85978B3EEB2A2F45468E6707CEAFE70D

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!!

mothers day

Hi,

I found this graphic on Canva for Mother’s day and it really spoke to me… what would we do without our mothers? Well, we wouldn’t even exist without mum, and of course dad!

Here’s an old photo of my mum and dad, but it is one of my favourites….. I love photos that make you wonder what had just been said and this one definitely does that!

unnamed

Without mothers, we wouldn’t have that special someone to turn to for a hug and a laugh, who listens and is always there for us. Mum is our confidante, (when we get a little older!) a best friend, a rock through times of crisis, and of course a very handy taxi service, cook, laundry lady and homework help! Mum is the supreme multi-tasker, extraordinaire!

Basically, mums are just so lovable. Mums rock! Hope you have a very enjoyable and relaxing mother’s day.

Let me know in the comments what you are up to…

Bye for now,

bitmoji923642549

85978B3EEB2A2F45468E6707CEAFE70D

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: